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Ascension Episcopal's Cole Simon warms up before the first-round playoff game between the Blue Gators and the Holy Savior Menard Eagles in the first round of the LHSAA football playoffs Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Andre Broussard/Special to The Advertiser

The Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take the field as the Blue Gators take on the Holy Savior Menard Eagles in the first round of the LHSAA football playoffs Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Andre Broussard/Special to The Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Asa Freeman attempts to run the ball down the field as the Blue Gators take on the Holy Savior Menard Eagles in the first round of the LHSAA football playoffs Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Andre Broussard/Special to The Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Jude Ardoin completes a pass as the Blue Gators take on the Holy Savior Menard Eagles in the first round of the LHSAA football playoffs Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Andre Broussard/Special to The Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Jaime Cordova punts the ball as the Blue Gators take on the Holy Savior Menard Eagles in the first round of the LHSAA football playoffs Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Andre Broussard/Special to The Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal quarterback Cole Simon runs the ball down the field as the Blue Gators take on the Holy Savior Menard Eagles in the first round of the LHSAA football playoffs Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Andre Broussard/Special to The Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Blaise Blancher (19) runs the ball down the field as the Blue Gators take on the Holy Savior Menard Eagles in the first round of the LHSAA football playoffs Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Andre Broussard/Special to The Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal quarterback Cole Simon makes a throw down the field as the Blue Gators take on the Holy Savior Menard Eagles in the first round of the LHSAA football playoffs Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Andre Broussard/Special to The Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Andrew Stolzenthaler is taken down in the mud after his long drive down the field as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Asa Freeman runs the ball through the defense as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's quarterback Cole Simon throws a deep pass downfield as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Andrew Stolzenthaler collides with a defender during his run as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Andrew Stolzenthaler leaps over a downed defender during the play as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's head coach Matthew Desormeaux calls a play from the sidelines as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's quarterback Cole Simon keeps the ball during the play as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Cole Edmond moves the ball on the field as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Cole Simon loses his grip on the ball while running it down the field as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Ethan Leoni carries the ball into the endzone to score as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Peyton Woodring kicks to score the extra point as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Ethan Leoni (47) is congratulated after his touchdown as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Matt Remondet charges at the quarterback while on defense as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's quarterback Cole Simon (left) hands off the ball to Ethan Leoni (right) during the play as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. James Mays/Special to the Advertiser

Asa Freeman (15) for the Gators with the big gain as the Catholic High Panthers travel to Youngsville to play the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators on Friday night October 4, 2019. Buddy Delahoussaye, Special to The Advertiser

Gator quarterback Cole Simon looks to pass down field as the Catholic High Panthers travel to Youngsville to play the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators on Friday night October 4, 2019. Buddy Delahoussaye, Special to The Advertiser

An Ascension fumble with 20 seconds left in the game gave Franklin the chance for a last-ditch effort, and they went 98 yards but were stopped when the Blue Gators sacked Franklin quarterback Zylan Perry.

Ethan Leoni scored two first-half touchdowns, which proved to be enough to give Ascension the 14-12 win.

“Franklin is a big, fast and physical football team,” Desormeaux said. “Those guys are good, and our guys battled with them. We told them it would be a 48-minute fight and it was. It went down to the very last snap.”

Desormeaux called Leoni “my guy.” The senior running back plays just about every position on the field for the Blue Gators, and Desormeaux said whatever they ask of Leoni, he gets it done.

“Ethan plays all four D-line positions, fullback, running back, tight end, slot receiver, and he is a 4.0 guy,” Desormeaux said. “We ask a lot of him and he just goes out there and does it. He’s a big, strong kid and he did a good job tonight.”

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Ascension Episcopal's Ethan Leoni carries the ball into the endzone to score as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.(Photo: James Mays/Special to the Advertiser)

Franklin opened the game with an impressive touchdown drive to go up 6-0 early. Desormeaux said he was concerned for a bit that giving the Hornets early momentum would be a problem, but he credited his team with adjusting and moving past the quick Franklin start.

“Franklin came out with a lot of energy,” Desormeaux said. “We had a chance to stop them, but we had a blown coverage in the secondary and they got a big play. They got some momentum right there, and if you give a team like that some momentum, it’s tough to slow them down. They did a really good job on that series, but our guys responded well.”

Ascension quarterback Cole Simon went out of the game in the second quarter with an apparent concussion. Desormeaux turned the game over to Andrew Stolzenthaler and said the game plan didn't change a whole lot — especially due to the conditions.

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Ascension Episcopal's Andrew Stolzenthaler collides with a defender during his run as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators take on the Franklin High Hornets during their Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.(Photo: James Mays/Special to the Advertiser)

“It changed a little, but not as much as it would under normal conditions,” Desormeaux admitted. “We rep Andrew every day at practice in case something like this happens. He stepped up and was ready to go and did a good job.”

Desormeaux said the Blue Gators coaching staff has challenged the team each week to prepare and practice the right way. He said the last two weeks he has seen a lot of growth in his team, and Friday’s gutsy win over Franklin shows they’ve responded to the challenge.

“I see a lot of growth in this team from Week 5 to now,” Desormeaux said. “We felt like we got lucky in a few games and we started badly in some games. We challenged them to prepare the right way and come out and start the game the right way. They did the last two weeks and it hopefully it continues to carry on.”